10 years later the war is over. In early November the major farm activity is winding down and there is time to relax a bit. Abby is all grown up. Madison, Colleen and Abby all have children and the farm is prosperous once again. Uncle Preston has found new meaning in life. But sometimes a girl needs something only another girl can give. Yet new things that are learned can be taken home. If a woman is happy, her man is happy too.
Note: All locations are fictitious.
*****
Colleen sat in the kitchen with Madison, listening to the rain from the sudden thunderstorm drum on the roof and beat against the windows. The house shook with the rumbles of thunder. She reached for Madison's hand.
"It's been a while since we've been together alone like this."
"It's sure been busy with the kids and all. It was a great idea for Uncle Preston to take all the kids AND our husbands up to Adventure Land for the weekend. I know they're all having a blast." Madison laughed. "And it gives the guys a chance to see what it's like to keep up with the kids all day."
"I guess my pa is the only male left on the farm at the moment. Now that he's not responsible for keeping everything going all by himself I think he's spending more time with ma. She sure seems happy. When he's not drunk he can be downright affectionate."
Madison stroked Colleen's long red hair. "Speaking of affectionate..."
Over the wind and rain they heard the splashing of hoofs outside followed by sharp knocking on the door. Madison opened to door to a shivering bedraggled Abby.
"What the...Get on in here, girl. Colleen will put Thunder in the barn."
A sopping Abbey came in and stood amid a growing puddle at her feet. Colleen pulled on a slicker and boots and went out to lead the horse to shelter.
"I went out for a ride and the storm came up so suddenly. I was way over on the other side of the farm and it started to hail so I didn't want to risk sheltering under the trees. Your place was the closest so I took a chance you were home or would have just taken shelter in the barn until the storm passed. At least there's no hail over here."
"You get out of those wet clothes and come with me. You need a hot bath."
Abby left a sopping pile of clothing on the kitchen floor. Madison ran hot water into the tub for a shivering Abby, who gratefully sank down into the warmth.
Back in the kitchen Madison found Colleen wringing out Abby's clothes in the sink and spreading them out to dry, draping them over kitchen chairs in front of the stove. Madison threw some more wood in the stove to heat the room a bit more, and put a kettle of water on the new cooking stove.
The two paused to embrace and kiss, a lingering kiss, and gently stroked each other's breast. Wrapped up in each other all sense of time was lost.
"What's going on?"
They both turned to find barefoot Abby standing in the kitchen door, wrapped in a towel. Madison blushed but Colleen, as always, was matter of fact.
"We were sharing a moment."
"But...you were kissing and you're both married. You have kids."
Madison recovered just as the teakettle began to whistle. "Sit down, Abby. I'm fixing us all some hot tea and we can talk."
With their hands wrapped around hot cups they sat around the kitchen table.
"Abby, do you love your husband?"
"Dylan? Of course."
"Well, I love Jeffrey. And Colleen loves Jake. We both love our kids. But sometimes a girl needs something else."
Colleen added "Something our husbands can't give us. They satisfy us, but there are times when the touch of another girl is comforting. Guys have a way of loving that is wonderful, but they don't know how to touch us like a girl does. Only a girl can truly know the needs of another girl."
"I don't understand."
Madison scooted her chair closer to Abby. "Have you ever kissed a girl?"
"Of course."
"I don't mean, like your sister or your mother. I mean a real kiss."
"I...I don't think so. Maybe Darlene in third grade. But that was a dare."
"Kiss me, Abby. The world won't end, I promise. It's different from kissing Dylan."
Madison leaned toward Abby who tentatively leaned forward until their lips were almost touching. Madison whispered "Go ahead."
Abby brushed her lips against Madison's and, when Madison didn't draw away, initiated a real kiss. Madison reciprocated and stroked Abby's still wet hair.
When they broke the kiss Madison asked "What do you think?"
"Umm...it was different, just like you said."
"Does Dylan kiss like that?"
"Not exactly. I have to admit this was nice. It was soft. Warm."
Colleen drew her chair up to the other side of Abby. "What about touching? Have you ever touched another girl? Even been touched by another girl?"
Abby cocked her head and furrowed her brow. "Nnnnoooooo?"
"Ever touched yourself?"
It was Abby's turn to blush. "Well, yeah."
"How does that compare with how Dylan touches you? Is it the same?"
Another blush. "No, it's not the same. Of course it's not the same. He's a guy."
"Exactly. Dylan wants to please you, but he can't touch you the way you would like best. You know your own body better than your husband does. We know that's how it is with our husbands."
"Abby, you know Colleen. You know me. You know we're not...funny...but we discovered some time ago that there is something special about a girl relationship. It's something our husbands can't truly understand. Jeffrey knows about it and says he understands, but a man can't really understand, even if he wants to."
"You mean you two do this a lot?"
"Not really. We're busy and never plan things ahead of time. Sometimes it just happens. This weekend is the first time we've planned to get together since...I don't even remember when."
"I remember. It was just before Jake got home from the service and Jeffrey was out hunting with a bunch of men."
"Yes! That was it. Gosh, that was a long time ago." Madison sighed "we were looking forward to this weekend together."
"Well, don't let me interfere. I'll just sit here in the kitchen while my clothes dry."
"Your clothes won't be dry for some time, so spend the night, Abby. You can join us."
"I'll stay but I don't know about that other thing."
"Since when have you ever been shy about trying out something? You were very precocious growing up."
"This just seems different."
Madison laid a hand on Abby's arm. "Just dip your toe in the water, as they say. You don't have to participate if you don't like it."
"You'll never know what you're missing unless you at least try to experience it."
Abby pursed her lips. The women were older than her and had been married longer also. Yet there seemed to be something natural in what she had observed between them. "Maybe I will. But it still feels weird to be talking about something like this."
Madison stood up. "We were about to eat when you arrived. I've made enough stew for us all."
"Venison?"
"That's what's on the menu, along with biscuits."
"I can't resist your stew. It beats even what Colleen's ma makes. Sorry Colleen, but it's true."
Colleen laughed. "I know it is. So does ma. She shakes her head in wonder when she eats Madison's stew. She can't figure out all the spices and how Madison gets the meat so tender and not gamey but Madison keeps it a secret."
Madison laughed "It wouldn't do to have just anyone make my stew, would it? I wouldn't have anything to take to a potluck."
Madison dished out steaming bowls of stew and Abby put away two bowls of it along with three biscuits. It helped to warm her up inside while the stove warmed her outside.
After cleaning up the three got ready for bed. Abby had nothing to wear and only had the towel wrapped around her but the other two put on nightgowns.
The lightning eased up and the rumbles of thunder gradually died away as the three snuggled under a comforter, crowded in the double bed. Abby shed the bulky towel before crawling into bed. The roar of rain on the metal roof turned into a soothing steady patter. Colleen and Madison were beside each other and Abby beside Colleen. Abby giggled nervously as she felt Colleen's warm body touching hers.
Colleen turned her face to the younger woman and caressed her hair. "You don't have to do anything here. Just learn what is possible between girls."
Colleen and Madison kissed and resumed the breast caressing they had been engaging in earlier. Abby noted the contented sighs and soft kisses. Bodies undulated under touches as hands began to roam. Before long the nightgowns came off and kisses took over for the breast caresses. Abby watched as hands stroked up thighs and heard whimpers as fingers explored. Bodies arched and moans were muffled by harder kisses. It looked like there were some different touches on breasts.
Almost simultaneously the two bodies arched harder several times and then relaxed. Kisses turned gentle again and hands caressed faces and hair. The two murmured affection to each other.
Abby suddenly realized her own hand was plunged into wet between her legs and she was breathing heavily. Colleen rolled over and saw what Abby was doing. She caressed a breast and joined Abby's hand down below. Abby withdrew her own hand and put her arm around Colleen's neck to draw her closer. Colleen leaned in for a kiss and Abby readily responded. Colleen touched places Dylan had never found, and before long Abby writhed on the bed.